NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCT

CAYENNE – CAPSICUM ANNUUM

Oral

This monograph is intended to serve as a guide to industry for the preparation of Product Licence
Applications (PLAs) and labels for natural health product market authorization. It is not intended
to be a comprehensive review of the medicinal ingredient.

Notes
Text in parentheses is additional optional information which can be included on the PLA and
product label at the applicant’s discretion.
The solidus (/) indicates that the terms and/or statements are synonymous. Either term or
statement may be selected by the applicant.

Date October 30, 2018

Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source material(s)

Table 1. Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source material(s)

Source material(s)
Proper name(s) Common name(s)
Proper name(s) Part(s) Preparation(s)
Capsicum annuum Cayenne Capsicum annuum Fruit Dried
Cayenne pepper
Chili pepper
Paprika
Red Pepper
References: Proper name: USDA 2018; Common names: Blumenthal et al. 2000, McGuffin et al. 2000;
Source material: Bradley 2006, Felter and Lloyd 1983.

Route of administration

Oral

Dosage form(s)

This monograph excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of
Monographs Guidance Document.

Acceptable dosage forms for the age category listed in this monograph and specified route of
administration are indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.
Use(s) or Purpose(s)

Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to aid digestion (Bradley 2006; Ellingwood 1983;
Felter and Lloyd 1983).
Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help support peripheral circulation (Bradley 2006;
Ellingwood 1983; Wren 1907).

Note
Claims for traditional use must include the term “Herbal Medicine”, “Traditional Chinese
Medicine”, or “Ayurveda”.

Dose(s)

Subpopulation(s)

Adults 18 years and older

Quantity(ies)

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powder, Non-Standardised Extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid
extract, Decoction, Infusion)

15-650 milligrams of dried fruit, per day (Bradley 2006; Blumenthal 2003; Hoffmann 2003; Lust
1987; Felter and Lloyd 1983; Grieve 1971)

Direction(s) for use

No statement required.

Duration(s) of use

No statement required.

Risk information

Caution(s) and warning(s)

Keep out of the reach of children.

Call a Poison Control Center immediately if overdose or accidental ingestion occurs (CPS
2008).
Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/
physician if symptoms persist or worsen.

Cayenne – Capsicum annuum- Oral Page 2 of 7

 Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/
physician prior to use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have stomach ulcers or
inflammation (Brinker 2010; Bradley 2006; Boon and Smith 2004).

Contraindication(s)

No statement required.

Known adverse reaction(s)

No statement required.

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and
must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

No statement required.

Specifications

The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements
described in the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality
of Natural Health Products Guide.
The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.

References cited

Blumenthal M. ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. New York (NY): Theime; 2003.

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E

Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

Boon H, Smith MJ. The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal
Herbs, 2nd edition. Toronto (ON): Robert Rose Inc; 2004.

Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on

Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (GB): British Herbal Medicine Association;
2006.
Cayenne – Capsicum annuum- Oral Page 3 of 7
Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 4th edition. Sandy (OR): Eclectic
Medical Publications; 2010.

CPS 2008: Repchinksy C, Welbanks L, Bhalla A, Fortin K, Jarvis B, Jovaisas B, Acharya S.

Compendium of Pharmaceutical Specialties. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmacists Association;
2008.

Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy. Sandy (OR):

Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1919 original].

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. King’s American Dispensatory, Volume 1, 18th edition. Sandy (OR):
Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1898 original].

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal, Volume 1. New York (NY): Dover Publications; 1971 [Reprint of
1931 Harcourt, Brace & Company publication].

Hoffman D. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester (VT):
Healing Arts Press; 2003.

Lust J. The Herb Book. New York (NY): Bantam Books Incorporated, published by arrangement
with Benedict Lust Publications; 1987.

McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce, 2nd edition.
Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.

USDA 2018: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National
Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Capsicum
Annuum. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2018 August
15]. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

Wren RC. Potter’s Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. London (GB): Potter and
Clark; 1907.

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